Spotify Calls Foul Amid Apple Dispute; Cites App Store Being Used As A “Weapon” Against Competitors Of Apple Music

Spotify responded to Apple amid concerns over App Store's rejection of the music streaming app's recent update on the online store.

Spotify had come forward and had called out Apple's "unfair" implementation of its approval process on the App Store, Recode reported.

The music streaming service stated that the approval process is being used as a "weapon" by Apple themselves to thwart Apple Music's competitors. Spotify claims that the California-based company is purposely blocking their update for the iOS app.

It has been revealed on June 26 from a letter sent by Spotify to Apple that the former had based its rejection of the update from an anti-competitive nature to help boost its native music streaming service, Apple Music.

Spotify has been in the market longer with its launch in 2006. The music streaming service from Stockholm boasts 30 million paid subscribers to its service.

Meanwhile, the relatively young Apple Music only has just reached one year since its launch in June 30, 2015. Since its release to millions of Apple users, it has now garnered a 13-million-strong paid subscriber base, according to 9to5Mac.

Prior to Spotify's response, the Cupertino-based company had cited that the App Store's rejection of the update was due to its non-compliance with its online store's policy, which states that the music streaming service must use Apple's billing system if it wants to charge users subscription fees within the app.

Spotify has been known to publicly contest against the aforementioned policy. As recent events had presented itself, the Stockholm-based company might use the claim to pursue a legal battle against Apple.

The rejection of the recent iOS version of the music streaming service's update may have affected Spotify's statistics among Apple users.

The Stockholm-based company states that it does not only affect them in particular, but harms the music streaming service market altogether, with Apple's alleged bias over its native Apple Music service, RethinkResearch reported.